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THE ISSUE 113 SPRING 2018 LOWELL OBSERVER THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF LOWELL HOME OF

Dr. Jennifer Hanley in the Astrophysical Materials Laboratory at Northern Arizona University.

IN THIS ISSUE 2 Director’s Update 2 Trustee’s Update Meet Jennifer Hanley 4 All Systems GODO!

By Jennifer Hanley, Astronomer

*Effective January 1, Jennifer Hanley conditions. I’m currently working on a and Michael Mommert accepted tenure-track grant funded by NASA to map chlorine astronomer positions at Lowell. To introduce salts on the surface of using spectra themselves to you, each of them has contributed acquired from the Mars Reconnaissance an article to this edition of The Lowell Orbiter. Observer. Michael’s story is on page 3. While a graduate student I interned at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) My research interests span across the in Pasadena, California. My project was 5 GODO Funding Opportunities solar system, focusing on the stability to measure spectra of chlorine salts at 6 The Man Who Saved the Universe of liquids on Mars, Titan and Europa. low temperatures and see if they were Before accepting this position, I had 7 Eicher Joins Advisory Board present on ’s moon Europa. This been working at Lowell with Drs. Will started my interest in the outer solar Grundy and Henry Roe since fall 2015 as a system. Since then I have continued my postdoctoral researcher on a grant from the research into the composition of Europa, John and Maureen Hendricks Charitable observing the moon with NASA’s Foundation. Infrared Facility (IRTF) and I earned a B.A. from Cornell University Lowell’s Discovery Channel Telescope. I in 2006 in of Systems and also participated in the Planetary Science then lived in for a year Summer School, which is a one week before returning to my passion, planetary science. I received my Ph.D. from the continued on page 4 University of Arkansas in Space and 8 Employee & Team of the Year Planetary in 2013. My dissertation was titled “On chlorine salts: Their 8 Putnam Receives Honorary Degree detection, stability and implications for Meet 9 Highlights of AAS water on Mars and Europa”. I measured Michael Mommert evaporation rates of salt solutions under 10 Schleicher Receives NASA Grant Martian surface conditions, modeled the interactions between water and various See page 3 for more! 11 Annual Fund Supports Collections salts, and acquired reflectance spectra of 12 Upcoming Events chlorine salts under Martian and Europan THE ISSUE 113 SPRING 2018

corporations, and foundations read about the Giovale Open nationwide. Deck Observatory, which This interest, we are should be ready for use by next learning, is widespread, and spring. This is the beginning there just isn’t enough time for of an exciting new era here our staff to hit the road and at Lowell, where we will be talk with everyone who wants establishing ourselves as the to learn more about Lowell. We premier destination DIRECTOR’S UPDATE do as much as we can, but like TRUSTEE’S UPDATE in the Americas, if not in the world. There will undoubtedly By Jeffrey Hall most non-profits, we run lean By W. Lowell Putnam be a few challenges along the and mean; and there are, as I I’m writing this note on a As I write this column I am way, but the support from the like to remind everyone, only hot, cloudless June afternoon looking out the window from community, the staff here on 36 hours in a day. We are most a few days before the solstice. the trustees residence at the Mars Hill, and the friends of grateful to the time and energy Just over a week ago, we major earth-moving equipment Lowell will carry the day, I am our Board puts in to helping wrapped up the annual meeting that is redoing the access sure. As the Chinese expression of our Advisory Board. The spread the word. roads in preparation for a new goes “we are living in Board has grown, since its But everyone who gets the water tank. This represents interesting times, but these also inception nearly 30 years Observer can do so as well. Pass the very beginning steps of present us with opportunities ago, into a broad group of your issue along to a friend, the new Mars Hill campus. to do better”. Your support individuals from many different or, if you’ve visited here, let Elsewhere in this issue you will helps make that happen. backgrounds. I’m pleased that some folks know about our cool outreach programs and all Astronomy magazine editor Receive Your Observer Digitally Dave Eicher has recently joined the science being done at the the Board (see p. 7) as well DCT. We repeatedly hear that as Principal the growing word of mouth As membership has grown at , so Investigator (see p. about the exciting present and has the cost of production of our quarterly publication 11). In addition to its original even more exciting future on The Lowell Observer, adding up to thousands of role of providing guidance to Mars Hill is a major driver of dollars and hundreds of trees. In an effort to be the Trustee, the Board plays our growing visitor attendance, economically and environmentally friendly, we invite a crucial role today in getting philanthropic support, and you to elect to receive your copy of the Observer the word out about Lowell ongoing success. As always, digitally. If this interests you, email Shannon Gonzales Observatory and connecting thank you for your continued at [email protected]. us to interested individuals, interest and help!

MIT Field Camp Returns to Lowell

This January I got the opportunity to attend the 31st-ish MIT Astronomy Field Camp at Lowell Observatory alongside fellow students Abbie Burrus (Wellesley College 2019), Tomás Cabrera (MIT 2019), Michaye Ledford (MIT 2020), Kishore Patra (MIT 2018), and Karisa Zdanky (Wellesley 2019). During my three weeks in Flagstaff, I worked alongside Dr. Maggie McAdam to build a prototype planetary surface-simulating mineral spectroscopy lab for the Northern Arizona University (NAU) and Astronomy Department. When I wasn’t working, I attended colloquia and weekly science discussions at Lowell and NAU, toured local telescope facilities like Lowell’s DCT and NPOI, and hiked in Northern Arizona’s geological and historical wonders like the Grand Canyon and Wupatki National Monument, as well as cooked dinners and talked with local astronomers. I was very busy, but I had a lot of fun and learned so much about From left, Professor Amanda Bosh, Tomás Cabrera, Jocelyn Reahl, Teaching Assistant Ryuga Hateno, Kishore Patra, Abbie Burrus, Karisa what it’s like to do real research! Zdanky, and Michaye Ledford at Wupatki National Monument. — Jocelyn Reahl, Wellesley College Student 2 THE ISSUEISSUE 104 113 SUMMER SPRING 20182015

Astronomer Michael Mommert

Michael Mommert spends a considerable amount of time obtaining observations for his research using Lowell Observatory at Anderson Mesa.

Meet Michael Mommert

By Michael Mommert, Astronomer

Considering myself a planetary daily basis. The motivation behind both astronomer, I am mostly interested in projects is to enhance the productivity of the physical properties of and researchers by providing useful software . By studying their characteristics, I tools to them that would take weeks- can open a window into the solar system’s to-months to build from scratch. This past and learn about its evolution. One software will especially help students and specific example of my research is the young researchers to get started in their exploration of objects that were long research projects without spending too known as asteroids, but suddenly show much time on writing their own software. -like activity. While bodies like these The need for such a software package has initially challenged our view of the solar system, they are considered to provide been acknowledged by NASA, which is important information on the properties of funding this project. both asteroids and comets—which are not I studied physics and astronomy at that different after all. Heidelberg University and received a Ph.D. For my observational studies, I use a in earth sciences from the Free University wide range of ground-based and space- in Berlin. After enduring the German based . Lowell’s Discovery weather for 31 years, I moved to Flagstaff Channel Telescope has always been an to become a postdoctoral researcher at important asset for my work and will Northern Arizona University, swapping New Pluto Books now become my main workhorse. In the cloudy days for sunny days. My new future, I plan to utilize newly available appointment with Lowell Observatory Three books about Pluto have observatories, including a fleet of small means not only an opportunity to work in just been published: Chasing robotic telescopes, the James Webb Space an excellent research environment, but also New Horizons (Alan Stern and Telescope and the Large Synoptic Survey that my family and I can spend more time David Grinspoon) tells the Telescope in Chile. All these new assets will in beautiful Flagstaff. revolutionize astronomy in different ways In my free time, I enjoy exploring places exciting story of the first mission and require a deep understanding of data near and far, camping under the stars, to Pluto; Discovering Pluto (Dale analysis techniques. hiking in the wilderness, and spending Cruikshank and William Sheehan) Hence, I am also interested in the development of data analysis techniques time with my family. comprehensively covers the history and scientific software that I provide to I look forward to becoming a part of the of Pluto research; (pictured) Pluto the community. I am the author of a Lowell team, which I have gotten to know and Lowell Observatory (Kevin software package that fully automates the and appreciate during my time in Flagstaff. Schindler and Will Grundy) cumbersome process of astronomical image My interests and skills complement focuses on the role of Flagstaff Lowell’s current expertise in solar system analysis and I am the main author of a and, particularly, Lowell, in the different software package that combines research, which has long roots ranging back a wide range of functionality that is used all the way to and Clyde history of this storied . by and comet researchers on a Tombaugh. 3 THE ISSUE 113 SPRING 2018

MEET JENNIFER HANLEY chemical interactions Continued from page 1 of exotic ices, study boot camp at JPL where students team up volatiles and health with engineers to mock design a NASA hazards to astronauts mission. Our mission was a Venus lander, from asteroids, and thus I now have a soft spot for Venus and build a Mars missions. chamber for regolith After completion of my Ph.D., I was experiments. Other a postdoctoral researcher at Southwest interests include the Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado applicability of these from 2013-2015, where I performed experiments to other laboratory experiments to test the effect of icy and small bodies salt and water on Martian soil mechanics. throughout the solar system. I am also part of Currently, I am studying the stability a newly selected NASA of the lakes and seas of Titan in the Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Astrophysical Materials Laboratory at Dr. Jennifer Hanley on top of Mauna Kea in Institute (SSERVI) called ESPRESSO Northern Arizona University (NAU). I Hawaii during an IRTF run in March 2015. (Exploration Science Pathfinder Research recently received a grant from NASA to for Enhancing Solar System Observations) simulate the surface pressure, temperature, which seeks to develop capabilities In my spare time, I enjoy traveling and composition of Titan to understand required to safely assess targets, sites, and and anything outdoors, such as hiking, how methane, ethane, and nitrogen samples for their scientific value and resource camping, and skiing. I am originally from interact with one another. I collaborate potential on future human exploration Buffalo, New York, and eagerly await the with other NAU researchers to model missions. next Bills Super Bowl appearance.

All Systems GODO!

Construction is underway on the first phase of the Mars Hill campus expansion project that will lead to the grand opening of the Giovale Open Deck Observatory (GODO) in the spring of 2019! The contractor selected to manage the construction effort is Building & Engineering Contractors (BEC) Southwest. Some of you may recognize the name, as BEC also constructed the DCT. The first order of business is the construction of the new water tank, pump house, and access road. Once the new water works is operational, the existing water tanks will be demolished to make way for the premier site of the GODO and its adjacent “wash house”. The designs for the GODO and wash house are complete, and their construction is expected to start in the fall of 2018.

What is an observatory without telescopes? In order to ensure we have our premier telescopes available when the GODO is complete, we have orders in place for the StarStructure 32-inch Dobsonian, the Moonraker 8-inch Refractor, the TEC refractor, and the Planewaves. These telescopes are Celebrating the custom-built with premium optics and will take as long to construct as the Lowell Prize GODO itself!

In 1918, Constance Lowell — David Sawyer, Technical established the Lowell Prize, in Project Manager memory of Percival, to honor the NAU student in the physical sciences with the most outstanding academic record. Since 2018 Architect’s rendering of the GODO in was the centenary of the award, the “open” observing configuration. The Dean Paul Jagodzinski of NAU “schematic design” phase is complete, presented Jeff Hall with a architectural and engineering details are being finalized, and construction beautiful framed commemoration documents are being prepared. The of 100 years of Lowell’s support building plans will be submitted to the city for review and approval this of academic excellence at NAU. summer.

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StarStructure 32-inch telescope.

GODO Funding The GODO Telescopes Opportunities

By Jim Cole, Educator Roll Off Building: As part of the new facilities expansion behold in daylight, but will offer the visitor $250,000 for the public program at Lowell white light daytime views of the and GODO Exhibit Sponsor: Observatory, the Giovale Open Deck sharp and contrasty views of the Moon, $100,000 Observatory (GODO) will be the first , double stars and star clusters at component to be realized. Construction night. This one-of-a-kind telescope will Exhibit: should start soon and be completed by end forge together the look of 19th century $120,000 of year or in early 2019. We have worked telescopes with modern to link hard to select a state-of-the-art collection of Lowell Observatory’s past and present. Educational Exhibits: permanently mounted telescopes to occupy Two of the telescopes will be 4 panels needed at $10,000 each the main observing deck. manufactured by PlaneWave, a 17-inch WiFi Connectivity: The group of telescopes as a whole and a 14-inch Corrected Dall-Kirkham $10,000 was selected to provide a wide range of (CDK). These world-class observing capabilities for our visitors telescopes—made by the same company and, along with our outstanding indoor Perimeter Benches: that is providing the new one-meter 8 benches needed at $5,000 each presentations, will give them a more telescopes for the Naval Precision Optical complete picture of the universe. Interferometer on Anderson Mesa—will Tiles with Science Quotes: The largest telescope in the GODO will be used primarily with electronic devices, a 100 tiles available starting at be a joint project utilizing a StarStructure video camera (MallinCam) and a Shelyak $2,000 each 32-inch f/3.0 Horizon structure and world spectrograph with output directed to large class quartz mirrors by Mike Lockwood. video monitors. The MallinCam mounted Tiles with Science Equations: The special quartz optics will adjust to fast 10 tiles available at $2,000 each dropping nighttime temperatures common on the 14-inch CDK will provide live, time in Flagstaff much quicker than standard integrated images allowing the public to If you would like to purchase a glass, providing faster access to sharper, see detail and real color in deep space quote or equation in support of more stable views for the visitor. The objects that is impossible through purely the GODO, you can do so on this massive light grasp of this scope will allow visual telescopes. The 17-inch with the webpage: visitors to see details of , planetary spectrometer will show real time spectra nebulae, globular clusters, and emission from objects in space, helping visitors lowell.edu/donate/godo-quotes nebulae like never before. to understand how astronomers know A magnificent, bespoke, Victorian style what things are made of and how fast 8-inch f/12 refractor with outstanding and in which direction they are moving. programs including optics from APM Germany will be created If mounted with the optional equatorial classes. by telescope magician Mark Turner of wedge and four-port instrument selector, The last telescopes of the group are Moonraker Telescopes in the United the CDK telescopes will provide after-hours a 140-millimeter TEC refractor and an Kingdom. This 10-foot-long, red and brass capabilities for scientific data collection by already-donated Meade 16-inch Modified telescope will not only be beautiful to Lowell’s astronomers and for special public Ritchey-Chretien telescope. 5 THE ISSUE 113 SPRING 2018

DISPATCHES FROM THE UNIVERSE By Michael West, Deputy Director for Science

The Man Who Saved the Universe

In 1949, James Mangan walked into the race to ensure the peaceful use of space, Celestia’s raison-d’etre largely vanished office of the Recorder of Deeds and Titles free from military barbarism or commercial after 1967, when the United Nations in Cook County, Illinois with one goal: to exploitation. The Declaration by the Nation declared that no nation could claim save the universe. of Celestial Space made clear that only sovereignty over space, followed by a 1979 To do this, he’d come to register a space was being claimed, “specifically ban on private ownership. new country—one that encompassed all exempting from claim every celestial body, But Mangan never gave up on the idea of space. Mangan called it the Nation of whether star, planet, satellite or comet.” of Celestia. “We are basically sky people— Celestial Space, or Celestia for short. Mangan described the new nation’s guiding not earth people,” he said. Before he died, To describe Mangan as eccentric would philosophy as “joy through peace.” he willed the cosmic nation to his children be an understatement. Before appointing Getting the rest of the world to and grandchildren, bestowing titles on them such as “Duke of the Moon” and himself as First Representative of Celestia, recognize the sovereign nation of Celestia he was a prolific author of books with titles “Princess of the Nation of Celestial Space.” was, predictably, not easy. Mangan sent So, was this guy crazy? Maybe. A like The Secret of Perfect Living, You Can Do letters to 74 nations asking for official Anything!, and The Knack of Selling Yourself. charlatan? Perhaps. But his heart was in the recognition, but received no replies. His right place. As the Irish playwright George These books dispensed nuggets of wisdom, request for membership in the United such as: Bernard Shaw once said, “Life isn’t about Nations was also rejected, though the U.N. finding yourself. Life is about creating briefly flew Celestia’s flag on one occasion. “Believe nothing till it’s understood, till it’s yourself.” clearly proven.” When the space race began with the And if you want to save the universe, launch of Sputnik in 1957, Mangan quickly sometimes you just have to trust the voices “Who you are or what you are means denounced it as trespassing. inside your head. nothing.” Frustrated by the lack of international recognition, in 1968 Mangan declared: Deputy Director for Science “The narrow mind stays rooted in one Michael West spot; the broad mind is free, inquiring, “I’m invoking the 20-year statute of unprejudiced; it seeks to learn both sides of limitations because everyone ignored me. the story.” Since nobody has objected for 20 years to my Nation of Celestial Space it means In his 1947 autobiography, Mangan all rules inaugurated by that nation hold boasted of being an internationally famous unchallenged from now on.” speaker, a world-champion spinner of tops, and one of the best grass cutters in Celestia minted its own coins, issued America. He even wrote a popular song passports, and printed stamps. To raise titled We’re All , which composer money for the fledgling nation, Mangan Irving Berlin called the worst song ever planned to sell parcels of space, roughly the written. size of earth, for a dollar apiece. He never According to Mangan, he founded did, however, and those who eagerly sent Celestia on behalf of the entire human him their money had it returned. 6 THE ISSUE 113 SPRING 2018

David Eicher is Editor-in-Chief of Astronomy magazine, the world’s largest publication on the subject.

David Eicher Joins Advisory Board 2017 in Review: Visitation By David Eicher, Lowell Advisory Board member and Astronomy magazine Chief Editor Visitors again flocked to I’m very proud to have joined the In my early days, I made friends with Lowell in 2017. Advisory Board of Lowell Observatory. some of the active writers who focused on I became interested in astronomy at age deep-sky objects, who included Brian Skiff Our total visitation for the year 14 and soon was hooked on observing and David Levy. Traveling around with was 98,463, our best ever. For galaxies, nebulae, and clusters. What them, I visited Lowell quite a number of some historical perspective, followed was the creation of Deep Sky times in the 1980s and 90s, and in 1985 Monthly, which became Deep Sky Magazine, even “worked” for 10 days as an assistant during the first full year that and then a career at Astronomy magazine, with Brian on the 21-inch photometric the Steele Visitor Center was in where I’ve been for more than 35 years. I’ve telescope, collecting data. I also got to operation (1995) attendance was been the Chief Editor for 16 years, have know other icons of the area: Clyde 64,371. It soon climbed over written 21 books on science and history, Tombaugh, Gene and Carolyn Shoemaker, 70,000 and hit the 80,000 mark and am on the Board of Directors of the and others. So memories of Lowell and Starmus Festival, serve as the Editor-in- some of its special people, along with a for the first time in 2008. Each of Chief of the Asteroid Day project, and deep reverence for the institution’s history the past three years has seen a have been president of the Astronomy with Mars, Pluto, and everything else, live jump past 90,000. This includes Foundation. Aside from astronomy, I’m a deep in my core. 97,364 in 2015, 98,105 in 2016, drummer who loves blues and rock, an avid I’m tremendously proud to be a part and last year’s total that included history buff, a mineralogy enthusiast and of the Lowell experience these days and so collector, and a Green Bay Packers fan. happy to know the current, amazing group a spike in August thanks to the of people associated with the observatory. solar . It is unique in science!

2017 in Review: Fundraising

2017 was a banner year for Lowell fundraising, with the observatory receiving more than $4.3 million in gifts and memberships. This includes an acquisition of more than 2,500 new members, a new record. The funds were used to support archives work, begin construction planning for the new Giovale Open Deck Observatory (coming in 2019), and support our powerful education programs such as Lowell Observatory Camps for Kids (LOCKs) and the Navajo-Hopi Program. They also sustained the superlative research work being performed at Lowell. Thank you for your generous support!

Master Teacher Todd Gonzales launches a bottle rocket with campers during a recent LOCKs camp.

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2017 Team of the Year

The Discovery Channel Telescope (DCT) continues to operate extremely efficiently. Many people contribute to this, but this year observatory leadership wanted to recognize those who keep things running so smoothly throughout the year in the dark of night: our DCT Telescope Operator team. Our astronomers and those from our partner institutions much appreciate their work. Congrats and thanks to them all for their part in enabling so much science at DCT.

Observer Andrew Hayslip at the DCT. 2017 Employee of the Year Our Employee of the Year for 2017 was Nicole Bird, our controller. Nicole implemented a number of changes in procedure that reduced overhead and made various reports considerably simpler, and she played a major role in keeping Lowell’s administrative functions running effectively and efficiently. Many thanks to Nicole for all her efforts on behalf of the observatory! We Observers Heidi Larson, Jason Sanborn, and Teznie Pugh at the Giovale-Millis Lodge. also wish Nicole well with her relocation to New York.

NAU Awards Honorary Doctorate to Lowell Putnam

At its spring commencement ceremonies, Northern Arizona University (NAU) awarded Sole Trustee W. Lowell Putnam an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

The award reinforces the century-long association between NAU and Lowell Observatory. Since the early 1900s, the observatory has awarded the Lowell Prize to an NAU graduate earning a bachelor’s degree who has maintained the highest average in scholarship during four years of residence. NAU annually presents another award, the Vesto M. Slipher Scholarship, named after longtime observatory astronomer Vesto Melvin (V.M.) Slipher, to an outstanding junior chemistry major. NAU is also one of the partner institutions of Lowell’s Discovery Channel Telescope.

Putnam is the ninth person with strong Lowell Observatory ties to receive an honorary doctorate from NAU, following V.M. Slipher W. Lowell Putnam addresses the crowd of graduates, (1957), (1960), E.C. Slipher (1961), Gene parents, NAU faculty and staff, and others during the May 12 commencement ceremonies at NAU’s J. Shoemaker (1965), John Hall (1976), Henry Giclas (1979), Carolyn Lawrence Walkup Skydome. Shoemaker (1989), and Bob Millis (2009). 8 THE ISSUE 113 SPRING 2018

Astronomy Liaison Alma Ruiz-Velasco, Adjunct Astronomer Evgenya Shkolnik, and Astronomer Joe Llama at the Lowell Observatory booth during the AAS winter meeting.

Highlights of the AAS Meeting in messenger astrophysics”. This features multi- Washington, DC wavelength astrophysics in which we can not only study an object by using different By Alma Ruiz-Velasco, Astronomy Liaison wavelengths such as optical, radio, infrared, x-ray, etc., but a different kind of signal. In January several Lowell staff traveled the exhibit hall that shared information Somewhere in the universe, two neutron to Washington D.C. to attend the about happenings at Lowell, stars merged. The cataclysmic event caused American Astronomical Society’s (AAS) The AAS is one of the largest scientific ripples in the fabric of space-time and winter meeting. Our representatives actively groups in North America. It has more than traveled at the speed of light, reaching participated by giving presentations, 7,000 members and organizes two meetings Earth 130 million years later. What was presenting posters, attending special topic during the year, one during the summer left, nobody knows. A black hole? A giant meetings, offering educational activities, and another one during the winter. This neutron star? The explosion shone so bright and operating an information booth. winter meeting in particular often features that it reached a magnitude of 17 in the Director Dr. Jeff Hall presented a talk dramatic discoveries that could change the optical, bright enough to be seen with a about light pollution and what the city of field of astronomy. 24-inch telescope. Flagstaff is doing to keep the skies dark. Probably my favorite topic at this This raised the question of whether the Flagstaff is not only the first international meeting was gravitational waves. I found it LIGO and Virgo would consider making Dark Sky City in the world, but also is an amazing that just two years ago during the public the alerts of their detections so example of how to implement lighting winter meeting in Florida you would not see anyone can point to the sky and find the ordinances that benefit the environment anything related to the topic. Gravitational light (they will probably do so at some and are economically feasible waves were still something fantastic to think point). Drs. , Joe Llama, Lisa about, but yet to be Prato, and George Jacoby presented their discovered. research during the corresponding poster We were sessions. In particular, Gerard’s poster was flooded with very popular among the attendees due to the latest results his very creative design (The POKEMON of LIGO (Laser Speckle Survey of Nearby M-Dwarfs). Interferometer Historian Kevin Schindler participated Gravitational-Wave in a panel discussion about the preservation Observatory), the and use of photographic glass plates and detection of a light Event Coordinator Jelena Lane led groups counterpart of of middle school students in creating scale the gravitational models of the solar system. I attended detection. This several press conferences and other media- is the beginning related activities and Communication of a new era, the Manager Molly Baker headed our team in era of “multi-

Alma Ruiz-Velasco and Jelena Lane lead a kids activity.

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The Lowell Observatory Foundation – Supporting Lowell Observatory

Through a combination of donor contributions and good markets the Lowell Observatory Foundation experienced 173% growth between December 31, 2015 and the end of 2017, growing from $1.9 million to $5.2 million. The Foundation has received generous donations from many Lowell Observatory supporters in See our website: the past two years, and we are grateful. www.lowell.edu/research/ recent-publications To assure Lowell Observatory’s long-term success, Director Jeff Hall has for more publications set a goal to have $20 million in endowments by December 31, 2024. Foundation funds and their values at the end of 2017 were: The Endowment Fund | $10,678 Recent Publications The Exploration Fund | $1,575,806 Keep up with our The Instrumentation Fund | $575,594 astronomers’ research by reading their recent Marcus Cometary Research Fund | $233,068 publications. Below is just one The Mars Hill Fund | $52,780 example of their work. See our website for more. Giovale Endowed Fund for Astronomical Research | $500,000 Waddell Fund | $101,634 Thirouin, Audrey; Sheppard, Millennium Fund | $2,055,340* Scott S. (2017). A Possible Dynamically Cold Classical Big Red Fund | $100,000** Contact Binary: (126719) 2002 CC249. The Astronomical For more information about the Foundation’s funds, and investment and Journal, Volume 154, Issue 6, spending policies, visit foundation.lowell.edu or contact Lisa Actor at article id. 241, 8 pp. (928) 255-5047 or [email protected].

*The Executive Committee, which retains responsibility for the Millennium Image: Neugent/Massey/Lowell Obs./NSF Fund, administers this fund as an endowment. For more information go to: lowell.edu/donate/millennium-fund. **A restricted fund in support of Percival Lowell’s 1911 Stevens-Duryea car. Lowell History Highlighted

Astronomer Dave Schleicher Lowell Observatory history has Receives Grant from NASA been featured in several recent periodicals: “Canal Mania” by Astronomer Dave Schleicher’s grant proposal, Klaus Brasch, Sky & Telescope “Physical and Chemical Studies of Comets,” (July 2018); “Percival Lowell and was accepted for funding by NASA’s Solar the Canals of Mars” by Matthew System Observations program. A three-year Sharps, Skeptical Inquirer (May/ grant, it will fund Schleicher to spend about June 2018); “How Pluto got its half of his time on the research that includes Name” by Kevin Schindler and observing and modeling gas and dust jets Lauren Amundson, Discover (May in Comets 21P/Giacobini-Zinner and 46P/ 2018); “The Photographic Legacy Wirtanen and analyses of several other of Lowell’s Great Refractor” comets observed in the past few years using by Klaus Brasch, Astronomy Lowell’s DCT and the John S. Hall 42-inch (March 2018); “Seeing Arizona, telescope. The $750,000 grant also supports former Lowell post-doc Imagining Mars” by Mike Matthew Knight (now at the University of Maryland) and Research Assistant Amundson, The Journal of Arizona Allison Bair. History (Winter 2017).

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Coming in the Next Issue of The Lowell Observer

In recent months we celebrated the reopening of the newly renovated Lawrence Lowell (Pluto Discovery) Telescope with both public and private ceremonies. In the next issue of the Observer, we’ll share pictures and stories from those events.

New Horizons Principal Investigator Alan Stern addressed an audience on June 9 that included members of the Lowell, Slipher, Sykes, Putnam, Tombaugh, and Christy families, as well as many modern Pluto scientists and supporters.

Annual Fund donations are supporting Lowell staff to move all of the historic documents and artifacts, often stored in less-than-ideal conditions as shown here, into the Putnam Collection Center.

Annual Fund Supports Collections

Gifts from a recent Annual Fund appeal are helping to preserve Lowell’s history and make it Astronomy Comedy accessible to historians and the by Jury Judge (Former Retail Associate Briana Jameyson) public. Lowell’s archivists and volunteers have already moved half of the collections in the Slipher Building basement to the Putnam Collection Center (PCC). The process of moving all the precious materials from locations around campus into the PCC will be a multi-year process, but with donor support we are able to begin this project ahead of schedule.

GODO Quotes & Equations

Help finish funding the Giovale Open Deck Observatory (GODO) by selecting a scientific quote or equation that changed our knowledge of the universe. These will be integrated, along with the donor’s name, into the GODO structure for visitors to enjoy. View available quotes and equations— and give one—at: lowell.edu/donate/godo-quotes

11 UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS

OPEN YEAR-ROUND Monday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

RECURRING EVENTS LOCKs Preschool | JUL 21 (Electricity & Magnetism: Simple Circuits) AUG 4 and AUG 18 (Our Moon: Phases of the Moon) | SEP 1 and SEP 15 (Light & Optics: Telescopes) | 10:30 a.m. - Noon

Meet an Astronomer | JUL 14, 21, 28 | AUG 4, 11, 18, 25 SEP 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 | 8 - 10 p.m.

JULY FRI 27 | Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower (8 - 10 p.m.) Come and talk to one of our educators under the (weather permitting) about meteor showers and viewing tips TUE 31 | Edison and the Eclipse that Enlightened America (7 - 8 p.m.) Author David Baron will talk about the 1878 total solar eclipse that crossed America’s western frontier

AUGUST FRI 10 | Perseid Meteor Shower (8 - 10 p.m.) Come and talk to one of our educators under the night sky (weather permitting) about meteor showers and viewing tips

SEPTEMBER MON 3 | Community Day (10 a.m. - 10 p.m.) Free admission for Coconino County residents and NAU students. Proof of address or NAU ID required.

For more special event information visit: www.lowell.edu/outreach/special-events

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The Lowell Observer is published quarterly by Lowell Observatory, 1400 W. Mars Hill Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 For comments about the newsletter, contact Historian Kevin Schindler: [email protected] | 928.233.3210 Layout and Design by Sarah Gilbert Contents Copyright 2018 by Lowell Observatory ISSN 1054-0059 Flagstaff, AZ U.S. Postage Permit No. Eco-friendly printing by Non-Profit Org. PAID 170

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